Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Playoff Stats & Stuff...

Some tidbits during the off day...

Pirate playoff history since 1960: They've been in 12 series, with a 5-7 record. The Bucs have lost their last three post-season sets, in the nineties. Five of those series ended in Pittsburgh, with the Pirates holding a 3-2 edge, and when a series goes the distance, the Bucs are 3-2 when on the road for the deciding contest.

The MLB Stat of the Day: the LA Dodgers have won three straight NLDS (after losing their previous four); the Atlanta Braves have dropped seven in a row (after winning six of their first seven).

Pedro and Cutch are tearing it up in the SL series so far. Pedro is hitting .385 with a .467 OBP, and Cutch is on his tail with a .357 BA and a .471 OBP. Justin Morneau (.250/.250) and Marlon Byrd (.214/.267) are kinda sputtering along in the middle. The problem is at the top of the order, where Starling Marte and Neil walker have combined for one hit, two walks and a HBP (.032/.114), which doesn't set the table very well. Russ Martin and Clint Barmes haven't done much heavy lifting at the back end, either. Both are hitting .200, though Martin has drawn a couple of walks for a .333 OBP. So the middle of the order could use a little help.

When Tom Singer of MLB.com asked Frank Coonelly about possible long-term deals for Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez, he was told "Both Neil and Pedro will be eligible for arbitration. They'll both be members of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the next three years, if nothing happens in terms of long-term arrangements. There have been discussions in the past with Neil, and I suspect we'll have those discussions again, and we look forward to keeping them as key members of the organization." Doesn't sound like the FO considers them to be front burner issues.

Coonelly has been making the rounds. He told93.7 The Fan that “The increased attendance this year allowed us to bring in Justin Morneau, Marlon Byrd, and John Buck at the trade deadline,” Coonelly said. “And the increased attendance and excitement for next year will certainly allow us to increase payroll.”

Looking ahead: with AJ's 2014 status up in the air, Jeff Locke in shutdown mode, and Kyle McPherson & Phil Irwin having lost years, we'd be surprised if Stolmy Pimentel, Jeanmar Gomez and Justin Wilson aren't stretched out over the off season so they can compete for a starting job to fill in around Francisco Liriano, Gerrit Cole, Wandy Rodriguez and Charlie Morton. Brandon Cumpton will be in that mix, and so will Jameson Taillon in either mid-season or 2015.

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